Sunta

I think it's because they are jealous they don't have the courage to do what's needed in their own lives to be successful, be it weight related or otherwise. Weight loss surgery is a very brave thing to do! I think it reminds them of the things in their own lives that they don't have the courage/knowledge/resources to change, and it makes them angry. And despite the fact that it's been proven by countless studies that the vast majority of people gain their weight back on regular diets, some people still are mired in the "traditional" way of doing things. It IS mind-boggling that anyone would be against a safe, effective method of weight loss, but then again, some people are always looking to the negative and ways to tear others down instead of supporting them. It's the old "put people down so you feel better about yourself" deal.

Wow, so many great responses! I did go to the class tonight and *tried* not to be too obviously irritated. It wasn't all that bad really. She mostly talked about ways we "use" food such as to Celebrate special occasions or to show appreciation to others. She did touch on using food to fill an emotional need or to fill a boredom gap, which again I don't relate to. The majority of people in the class did feel like they are emotional eaters so I guess for them it was helpful. In thinking more about it, and after reading all of your thoughtful responses, I do agree that I am a "foodie". I do love food and trying new restaurants and new foods. I love the taste of food and I do eat too much (mostly because I am more hungry than average weight people but sometimes because it just plain tastes good!). However, being a foodie does not equal emotional eating, because I know plenty of thin people who are foodies too; those who love eating out, trying new foods, and the flavor and texture of food. She talked tonight about "mindless eating" and "not enjoying your food because you eat so fast" and I don't relate to those things either. I am always paying attention to what I eat because I always enjoy it! I see myself as no different from the thin friends I dine with who are foodies too except for the fact I am more hungry than they are and can eat more than they can. I was laughing tonight because another couple friend of me and my husband just invited us out to Dim Sum on Sunday in honor of Chinese New Year. This couple friend is thin but they looove to eat! So, we'll go to Dim Sum, and we're all foodies, and I will eat more than them but not because I'm emotional. I don't think my love of food will change after I get the band, but I do think (hope) the band will control my portion sizes, which is really what I need to be successful.

Am I the only one? I swear that I'm not in denial. I swear that my emotions have no bearing on my eating. Really! Neither positive nor negative stressors have any effect on how much or how little I eat (except that maybe when I'm very very very depressed or stressed, like having to go to a funeral or something equally horrible, I don't feel very much like eating at all). I feel like I am alone in this, and that no one believes me about it. In fact, tonight one of my nutrition classes is all about "identifying emotional triggers" that make us eat. This actually makes me really, really angry. I honestly feel like I constantly get blamed for my weight problem by this attitude. I am not denying that there are many people for whom this IS true (I've read some of the touching stories on here) and for whom food is directly related to childhood experiences or life events/stress. I totally respect everyone's experience, but I don't share in the experience or being an emotional eater. I don't binge. I don't go to McDonalds and order two Big Macs and supersize fries and eat it alone in my car. I am not blaming anyone who does or did that kind of thing, I'm just saying that I don't. I don't eat in secret, I don't binge, I don't eat more when I am depressed or sad. I DO eat a bit more than "normal weight" people. All the time. I don't eat a tremendous amount more, but I see that the extra calories from that extra handful of chips or that bigger piece of cake or that larger bowl of Cereal really add up. I think I am more hungry (NOT head hunger, REAL hunger) than normal weight people, and that this fact is not my fault. I can fill up a big bowl with two full cups of cereal and eat it all and not be really all that full. I will also be hungry again in two hours after eating that amount. I am hungrier than my thin friends. I just am. It's not because I'm depressed or stressed out or upset or because anything was wrong with my childhood. I am so mad about having to go to this class tonight, and I am very indignant that it's mandatory. I think it should be offered to those that ARE emotional eaters and that it can be helpful for people who are struggling with binging or with emotional eating. But to make it mandatory, it's like saying that overweight has no genetic basis and that everyone who is overweight is an emotional eater. I wish they would stop focussing on this aspect and start finding out the REAL reasons (for some of us) that make people overweight like genetics or metabolic problems. I can see myself having a major attitude problem in this class tonight. Anyone else relate to what I'm saying?

I get angry whenever someone advertises a perfectly normal size (10, 12, 14) as being "overweight". At size 14 I look positively skinny. It's soooo annoying. I agree 100%

Hi!

WOW! I can't believe it! I have my surgery date finally!!! I still have to complete a bunch of pre-op stuff (nutrition classes, psych eval, bloodwork, etc.) but she called today and said that the clearances I've done are enough to get me scheduled!!! I am soooo excited and soooo nervous too! My date is February 22nd! Only about five weeks away!!! I can't believe it!

Are you familiar with Stevia? It has no impact on blood sugar and no peaks and valleys like carbs and fake sugars. A girl in my office has very bad hypoglycemia and is extremely careful with what she eats and she swears by stevia because it is the only sweetener that doesn't cause any cravings.

I agree completely. I am so happy to have found this wonderful site where everyone is so giving of knowledge and helpful suggestions. I also really enjoy following everyone's journey and wishing the best for their success.

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone here has used a surgeon who a little light on banding experience? My surgeon had done 40 bands at the time of consult, and by the time my surgery rolls around, he will have done about 80-100. I'm specifically interested in if you've used a surgeon who was low on banding experience, are you happy with your band? He is very experienced with laproscopic surgery in general though and has been a surgeon for 24 years.

Thank you for the extremely inspirational pictures!!! You look fantastic!

Hi,

I just went to my nutrition class tonight and the nutritionist said we could never drink caffeine again?!?!?!?! Also, no alcohol?!?!?!! She said the caffeine restriction is because of the risk of gastritis. I said "well I haven't has gastritis from caffeine for 35 years... why would I get it after I have the band? She said she didn't know! HAHAHAH! Also, for the alcohol I was like "Are they crazy?" and she said she also didn't know why they restrict alcohol. All I know is, there is NO way I'm giving up either! That being said, has anyone had trouble with gastritis due to caffeine after being banded???

I had to pay $545 for these nutrition classes and I had my first one tonight. The information was elementary, I could have taught the class when I was in third grade! Stuff like "don't eat alot of sugar" and "choose lean proteins." I could recite this information in my sleep from years of dieting. I hope I don't get flagged for my bad attitude, because I was sitting there looking really mad and bored LOL! You're so lucky you only had to go once. I have to attend three 1.5 hour classes!

Hi!

I was thinking back tonight about my first visit with my surgeon. I'm not banded yet and am awaiting a surgery date. During the visit he told me he's done 40 bands (by the time I get mine that number will have most likely doubled because he's doing about 4 or 5 per week). He said that of those 40 people, three people have had their bands removed. Two because of acid reflux and one because of a hole that occurred either during or after surgery. This hole was located just above the stomach somewhere. The surgeon gave some explanation about "shearing" away part of some membrane to get behind the stomach or something, and maybe because this person had already suffered from acid reflux, his membrane was thinner or worn away. But that was just his theory. I remember reading an article about a councilwoman who died getting the LAP Band due to surgical error which was a stomach perforation. Should I be worried??? I know the hospital I'm going to has an excellent reputation. I guess his complication (removal) rate is about 8%. This seems high, huh? He's attended during surgery by two more experienced surgeons. Should I switch to one of them, or am I just being over-cautious?

Hi!

I was thinking back tonight about my first visit with my surgeon. I'm not banded yet and am awaiting a surgery date. During the visit he told me he's done 40 bands (by the time I get mine that number will have most likely doubled because he's doing about 4 or 5 per week). He said that of those 40 people, three people have had their bands removed. Two because of acid reflux and one because of a hole that occurred either during or after surgery. This hole was located just above the stomach somewhere. The surgeon gave some explanation about "shearing" away part of some membrane to get behind the stomach or something, and maybe because this person had already suffered from acid reflux, his membrane was thinner or worn away. But that was just his theory. I remember reading an article about a councilwoman who died getting the LAP Band due to surgical error which was a stomach perforation. Should I be worried??? I know the hospital I'm going to has an excellent reputation. I guess his complication (removal) rate is about 8%. This seems high, huh? He's attended during surgery by two more experienced surgeons. Should I switch to one of them, or am I just being over-cautious?

So far, I have had an upper GI, a stress test, an ekg, a 3-d echocardiogram of my heart, and been to the pulmonologist. I still have to complete three nutrition classes, a psych evaluation, and two more doctor visits plus bloodwork. The upper GI was no big deal. I was knocked out for it and don't remember much about it. It takes five minutes and it was great having the day off from work!

Talk to your doctor about a prescription for tramadol. It is a non-narcotic pain killer and is not a NSAID. My surgeon said tramadol would be ok to take. Once when I was in severe pain for months from a medical problem, tramadol saved my life. It works for everything and is excellent in my opinion.

Talk to your doctor about a prescription for tramadol. It is a non-narcotic pain killer and is not a NSAID. My surgeon said tramadol would be ok to take. Once when I was in severe pain for months from a medical problem, tramadol saved my life. It works for everything and is excellent in my opinion.

Talk to your doctor about a prescription for tramadol. It is a non-narcotic pain killer and is not a NSAID. My surgeon said tramadol would be ok to take. Once when I was in severe pain for months from a medical problem, tramadol saved my life. It works for everything and is excellent in my opinion.

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear of your problems with your mother in law. I wanted to mention something my dad just said to me on Monday. I met him for dinner (he lives in Florida, I live in Philly, and he was up visiting) and I told him about my upcoming surgery. He said a very interesting thing to me: "Just be prepared for a tremendous amount of resentment from your family and friends". I looked at him quizzically and he said "people resent it when people lose weight, because it reminds them of their own shortcomings and how they have not met goals they want to meet, be it weight loss or other goals." So, I must agree with NanaRenan on this; your mother in law most likely is resentful of your success. Hopefully, in time, it's something she will get past. In the meantime, I do agree that it's your husbands place to intervene.

Congratulations! I am very envious because I am still awaiting my surgery date. I have been through so much pre-op testing and now I still have to take three nutrition classes, have a psych evaluation, plus two more doctor appointments! By the time my surgery comes around, I will have been doing this process for four to five months or longer! Best of luck with everything.

I know Oprah seems honest, but if she's come out and said she's not had any face work done, she's not being truthful. There is no way at her age she wouldn't have some wrinkles and signs of aging. But on the contrary, her face is 100% smooth and tight. She looks about 40 when I think she's in her 50's. At the very, very least, she's had major botox. Actually, I can find lots of pics of her from about 10 years ago and her face looks alot older than it does now! Thus, I do believe she has had the LAP Band because I do think she is capable of keeping it to herself as she has her face work, and also, she's kept it off for so long. Personal chef or no personal chef, there's nothing stopping her when she eats out (which I assume is very frequently) and when she eats at other people's houses (which I assume is also very frequently). There's many opportunities for her to eat food that her chef has not prepared. I vote yes on the LAP Band.

My band doctor says he will fix my hernia and then place the band, all in one surgery.

Hi,

I am not banded yet, and I just finished a sushi lunch box. While stuffing my face with sticky rice, I was thinking, "I probably won't be able to eat this at all after my band". I know everyone's band is different and everyone can tolerate (or not tolerate) different things, but I was wondering how many you who are banded can eat rice, and if so, how many can eat the sticky Japanese rice and/or sushi and sushi rolls? Sushi is a major passion of mine and I can't imagine going the rest of my life with never eating it again.

Another really good Website for counting calories is www.calorieking.com. I don't think I've ever been on there and not found what I was looking for.

Hi,

I am still awaiting a surgery date and was just thinking about my doctor's guidelines today; Full liquids for FOUR weeks and mushy food for another two after that. I am having trouble imagining staying on a liquid diet for a MONTH. I know most probably agree we should follow our physician's guidelines, but that being said, how many here had the same guidelines and started mushies early? If so, how early? I just can't imagine adhering to a month on liquids. I can barely imagine it for a week let alone four! How bad is to take matters into my own hands and start on mushies at week two? Thanks!

Are you (or the Fitday software) taking into account your base metabolic rate? That is the rate at which you burn calories while at rest (sleeping or lying down). For example, my base metabolic rate is 1,200 (!). That means that at rest, my body burns 1,200 calories in a day. I am not muscular, nor do I exercise, but still I'm burning 1,200 per day. I'll bet if you had a BMR test done, it would reveal you are burning many, many more calories than 780.